The English government has taken censuses every 10 years since 1801, except for 1941. This census covers those living in England and Wales on 8 April 1861.

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== The Historical Records Index ==

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This collection will include records for 1861.

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The index was republished on 23 February 2011 to reflect both the ecclesiatical parish and civil parish for each event to provide further assistance in locating entries.

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The index was republished on 23 February 2011 to reflect both the ecclesiastical parish and civil parish for each event to provide further assistance in locating entries.

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Population schedule for England, Wales, Isle of Man and Channel Islands showing population as of 7 April 1861. This data has been provided by Findmypast.com.

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The index has been created by FamilySearch.org. The images were provided by Findmypast.com.

== Record Description ==

== Record Description ==

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Population schedule for England, Wales, Isle of Man and Channel Islands showing population as of 7 April 1861.

Census schedules consist of large sheets with preprinted rows and columns. The schedules are arranged by county and then divided by civil parish, while some are further subdivided into smaller enumeration districts, each district being an area that could be enumerated in a day. The only exception to this is the 1841 census, which was arranged by “hundreds” (administrative subdivisions of land). For reference purposes, the National Archives assigned a piece number to each enumeration district and stamped a folio number in the upper right corner of each right-side page. The number refers to entries on both sides of the page (both the recto and verso of the folio). Almost all the residents of England, whether were citizens or not, are included in the census

Census schedules consist of large sheets with preprinted rows and columns. The schedules are arranged by county and then divided by civil parish, while some are further subdivided into smaller enumeration districts, each district being an area that could be enumerated in a day. The only exception to this is the 1841 census, which was arranged by “hundreds” (administrative subdivisions of land). For reference purposes, the National Archives assigned a piece number to each enumeration district and stamped a folio number in the upper right corner of each right-side page. The number refers to entries on both sides of the page (both the recto and verso of the folio). Almost all the residents of England, whether were citizens or not, are included in the census

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== Record Content ==

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The British government has taken censuses every 10 years since 1801, except for 1941. This census covers those living in England and Wales on 8 April 1861.

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The Registrar General created the national censuses. Enumerators went door to door collecting the data in census books. The 1841 census was taken on June 7. Censuses taken between 1851 and 1931 were conducted on a single day, sometime between March 31 and April 8. The census takers listed only those who spent the night in each household, so individuals who were traveling or at school were listed where they spent the night.

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The Registrar General created censuses for various reasons, including population studies, accessing military readiness, compiling lists of eligible voters, and tracking relief to the poor.

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The information gathered by the census taker is only as reliable as the person who provided the information. While some information may not be completely accurate, it can still provide important clues in locating an ancestor.

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The 1861 census also has missing pieces or parts of enumeration books. [http://www.findmypast.co.uk/helpadvice/knowledge-base/census/index.jsp#issues FindMyPast] and provides a detailed list of the missing areas, remember to scroll to that section on this page. Be sure to check to see that your ancestors living areas are not listed in the missing lists.

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=== Citation for This Collection ===

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The following citation refers to the original source of the information published in FamilySearch.org Historical Records collections. Sources include the author, custodian, publisher, and archive for the original records.

[[England and Wales 1861 Census (FamilySearch Historical Records)#Citation_Example_for_a_Record_Found_in_This_Collection|Suggested citation format for a record in this collection.]]

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=== Record Content ===

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[[Image:England and Wales 1861 Census.jpg|thumb|right]]

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These census records usually contain the following information:

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The 1841 census lists the members of each household, along with their name, sex, address, occupation, and whether they were born in the county. The census taker usually rounded the ages of those older than 15 down to a multiple of 5. Beginning with the 1851 census, the information listed includes names, ages, parish and county of birth, occupation, and relationship to the head of the household for each person. The census record may also list the birth country for people born outside of England.

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*Date, place, registration district, parish and county where census was taken

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*Given and surname of each member of household

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*Gender, age, and marital status of each member

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*Birthplace of each member

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*Relationship of each member to head of household

== How to Use the Records ==

== How to Use the Records ==

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Begin your search by locating your ancestor in the census. Compare the information in the census to what you already know about your ancestors to determine if this is the correct family or person. You may need to compare the information of more than one family or person to make this determination.

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To begin your search, it would be helpful if you knew the following information:

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*Name of ancestor

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*Place of birth and approximate year of birth.

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*Names of family members

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==== Search the Collection ====

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Fill in the requested information in the initial search page. This search will return a list of possible matches. Compare the information about the ancestors in the list to what you already know about your ancestors to determine if this is the correct family or person. You may need to look at several images and compare the information about the individuals listed in those images to your ancestors to make this determination.

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==== Using the Information ====

Carefully evaluate each piece of information about them. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details that can lead you to other records about your ancestors.

Carefully evaluate each piece of information about them. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details that can lead you to other records about your ancestors.

Line 31:

Line 67:

*Use the age listed to determine an approximate birth date. This date along with the place of birth can help you find a birth record. Birth records often list biographical and marital details about the parents and close relatives other than the immediate family.

*Use the age listed to determine an approximate birth date. This date along with the place of birth can help you find a birth record. Birth records often list biographical and marital details about the parents and close relatives other than the immediate family.

*Birth places can tell you former residences and can help to establish a migration pattern for the family.

*Birth places can tell you former residences and can help to establish a migration pattern for the family.

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*Occupations listed can lead you to employment records or other types of records such as school records; children’s occupations are often listed as “at school.”

*It is often helpful to extract the information on all families with the same surname in the same general area. If the surname is uncommon, it is likely that those living in the same area were related.

*It is often helpful to extract the information on all families with the same surname in the same general area. If the surname is uncommon, it is likely that those living in the same area were related.

*Be sure to extract all families before you look at other records. The relationships given will help you to organize family groups. The family groupings will help you identify related families when you discover additional information in other records.

*Be sure to extract all families before you look at other records. The relationships given will help you to organize family groups. The family groupings will help you identify related families when you discover additional information in other records.

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Some other helpful tips to keep in mind are:

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==== Tips to Keep in Mind ====

*Married family members may have lived nearby but in a separate household so you may want to search an entire town, neighboring towns, or even an county.

*Married family members may have lived nearby but in a separate household so you may want to search an entire town, neighboring towns, or even an county.

Line 41:

Line 76:

*You may be able to identify a younger generation if a young married couple still lived with one of their sets of parents.

*You may be able to identify a younger generation if a young married couple still lived with one of their sets of parents.

*Additional searches may be needed to locate all members of a particular family in the census

*Additional searches may be needed to locate all members of a particular family in the census

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*Occupations listed can lead you to employment records.

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== Record History ==

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== Known Issues with This Collection ==

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The Registrar General created the national censuses. Enumerators went door to door collecting the data in census books. The 1841 census was taken on June 7. Censuses taken between 1851 and 1931 were conducted on a single day, sometime between March 31 and April 8. The census takers listed only those who spent the night in each household, so individuals who were traveling or at school were listed where they spent the night.&nbsp;

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=== Why the Record Was Created ===

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The Registrar General created censuses for various reasons, including population studies, accessing military readiness, compiling lists of eligible voters, and tracking relief to the poor.

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=== Record Reliability ===

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The information gathered by the census taker is only as reliable as the person who provided the information. While some information may not be completely accurate, it can still provide important clues in locating an ancestor.

−

The 1861 census also has missing pieces or parts of enumeration books. [http://www.findmypast.co.uk/helpadvice/knowledge-base/census/index.jsp#issues FindMyPast] and provides a detailed list of the missing areas, remember to scroll to that section on this page. Be sure to check to see that your ancestors living areas are not listed in the missing lists.

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{{HR Known Issues}}For a full list of all known issues associated with this collection see the attached [[England and Wales 1861 Census (FamilySearch Historical Records)/Known Issues|Wiki article]]. If you encounter additional problems, please email them to [mailto:support@familysearch.org support@familysearch.org]. Please include the full path to the link and a description of the problem in your e-mail. Your assistance will help ensure that future reworks will be considered.

When you copy information from a record, you should list where you found the information. This will help you or others to find the record again. It is also good to keep track of records where you did not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records.

When you copy information from a record, you should list where you found the information. This will help you or others to find the record again. It is also good to keep track of records where you did not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records.

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A suggested format for keeping track of records that you have searched is found in the wiki article [[Help:How to Cite FamilySearch Collections|Help:How to Cite FamilySearch Collections]].

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A suggested format for keeping track of records that you have searched is found in the wiki article [[Help:How to Cite FamilySearch Collections]].

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==== Example of a Source Citation for a Record in This Collection ====

The following citation refers to the original source of the data and images published on FamilySearch.org Historical Records. It may include the author, custodian, publisher, and archive for the original records.

The Historical Records Index

The index was republished on 23 February 2011 to reflect both the ecclesiastical parish and civil parish for each event to provide further assistance in locating entries.

The index has been created by FamilySearch.org. The images were provided by Findmypast.com.

Record Description

Population schedule for England, Wales, Isle of Man and Channel Islands showing population as of 7 April 1861.

Census schedules consist of large sheets with preprinted rows and columns. The schedules are arranged by county and then divided by civil parish, while some are further subdivided into smaller enumeration districts, each district being an area that could be enumerated in a day. The only exception to this is the 1841 census, which was arranged by “hundreds” (administrative subdivisions of land). For reference purposes, the National Archives assigned a piece number to each enumeration district and stamped a folio number in the upper right corner of each right-side page. The number refers to entries on both sides of the page (both the recto and verso of the folio). Almost all the residents of England, whether were citizens or not, are included in the census

The British government has taken censuses every 10 years since 1801, except for 1941. This census covers those living in England and Wales on 8 April 1861.

The Registrar General created the national censuses. Enumerators went door to door collecting the data in census books. The 1841 census was taken on June 7. Censuses taken between 1851 and 1931 were conducted on a single day, sometime between March 31 and April 8. The census takers listed only those who spent the night in each household, so individuals who were traveling or at school were listed where they spent the night.

The Registrar General created censuses for various reasons, including population studies, accessing military readiness, compiling lists of eligible voters, and tracking relief to the poor.

The information gathered by the census taker is only as reliable as the person who provided the information. While some information may not be completely accurate, it can still provide important clues in locating an ancestor.

The 1861 census also has missing pieces or parts of enumeration books. FindMyPast and provides a detailed list of the missing areas, remember to scroll to that section on this page. Be sure to check to see that your ancestors living areas are not listed in the missing lists.

Citation for This Collection

The following citation refers to the original source of the information published in FamilySearch.org Historical Records collections. Sources include the author, custodian, publisher, and archive for the original records.

Record Content

Date, place, registration district, parish and county where census was taken

Given and surname of each member of household

Gender, age, and marital status of each member

Birthplace of each member

Relationship of each member to head of household

How to Use the Records

To begin your search, it would be helpful if you knew the following information:

Name of ancestor

Place of birth and approximate year of birth.

Names of family members

Search the Collection

Fill in the requested information in the initial search page. This search will return a list of possible matches. Compare the information about the ancestors in the list to what you already know about your ancestors to determine if this is the correct family or person. You may need to look at several images and compare the information about the individuals listed in those images to your ancestors to make this determination.

Using the Information

Carefully evaluate each piece of information about them. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details that can lead you to other records about your ancestors.

For example:

Use the age listed to determine an approximate birth date. This date along with the place of birth can help you find a birth record. Birth records often list biographical and marital details about the parents and close relatives other than the immediate family.

Birth places can tell you former residences and can help to establish a migration pattern for the family.

It is often helpful to extract the information on all families with the same surname in the same general area. If the surname is uncommon, it is likely that those living in the same area were related.

Be sure to extract all families before you look at other records. The relationships given will help you to organize family groups. The family groupings will help you identify related families when you discover additional information in other records.

Tips to Keep in Mind

Married family members may have lived nearby but in a separate household so you may want to search an entire town, neighboring towns, or even an county.

You may be able to identify an earlier generation if elderly parents were living with or close by a married child.

You may be able to identify a younger generation if a young married couple still lived with one of their sets of parents.

Additional searches may be needed to locate all members of a particular family in the census

Occupations listed can lead you to employment records.

Known Issues with This Collection

For a full list of all known issues associated with this collection see the attached Wiki article. If you encounter additional problems, please email them to support@familysearch.org. Please include the full path to the link and a description of the problem in your e-mail. Your assistance will help ensure that future reworks will be considered.

Related Websites

Related Wiki Articles

Contributions to This Article

We welcome user additions to FamilySearch Historical Records wiki articles. We are looking for additional information that will help readers understand the topic and better use the available records. We also need translations for collection titles and images in articles about records written in languages other than English. For specific needs, please visit WikiProject FamilySearch Records.

Please follow these guidelines as you make changes. Thank you for any contributions you may provide.

Citing FamilySearch Historical Collections

When you copy information from a record, you should list where you found the information. This will help you or others to find the record again. It is also good to keep track of records where you did not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records.